CHAPTER ONE

1.1          INTRODUCTION

Financial crimes have been the order of the day for quite a long time especially in our society today. This phenomenon ranges from various dimensions, such as Bank fraud, embezzlement of public funds, money laundering, credit cards fraud etc. It can be described as a conscious premeditated action of a person or group of persons with the intention of altering the truth, or facts for selfish personal monetary gain.

This has been a general decease in the whole wide world and the Nigerian society has not seen spared either.

The powerful effect of crimes has on the global market has now become a source of great concern to future reasoning stakeholders profitable firms are closing businesses and innocent members of the society not guilty of a financial crime are groan with pain under the weight of a heavy debt burden and a not hopeful future.

Surprisingly, after the attack in the United States trading centre on September 11, several financial irregularities were uncovered in some major business empires with devastating effects on the global financial market or businesses.

Agbuba and Egbunike (2003:14) “At the sixth regional workshop on money laundry and financial crimes organized by West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) in Lagos, its Director General Chris Itsedo disclosed that an estimated $10 billion (N1.28 trillion) was lost yearly in the ECOWAS sub region through money laundering activities lone.

In the same vain the newly introduced ATM card is not helping situation is easily accessible to these advance fraudsters. Due to no adequate security measure which wrongly place in the system.

It is becoming very clear that financial crimes exist in our society. If not worse, it is saddening to learn that various forms of crimes or criminalities have eaten so deep into the structure of our financial institutions. This singular activities has caused a great damage in our Economy such as loss of jobs, loss of investors, loss of confidence in the financial institutions, youth no longer interested in learning or reading due to they are thinking on how to defraud and become rich over night such as some youth in Edo State today that took over leadership from elders of their time and engage on selling lands and buying cars forgetting the future of the yet on born child. These now serve as means of escape of huge sums of money from our developing economy etc.

To eradicate this phenomenon becomes difficult due to top government functionaries and unscrupulous politi9cians and other high place individuals citizens both here at home and abroad engage in these activities that made transparency international in several occasion ranked Nigeria as one of the most corrupt Nation on the planet.

Ranging from stealing public funds through non-completion of projects and some other cases work will be contracted on paper (faceless site) awarded on political basis not even executed they will share the money among themselves and possibly kill any body that come across their way.

The economy is suffering its own share of decay gradually, as a result of this sucking/outflow, which move often than not the funds are taken abroad. Million staffs of our Nation have been thrown into the labour market and many investors in our economy, have been thrown into panic as they watch their hard earned money go down the drain. The investors are now doubting the financial transparency of our financial institutions and the economy at large.

Technology of today and vast internet connectivity with just the process of pressing a button transfermillion of dollars into strange accounts. These stolen millions instead further help to endanger the life of our people. These unscrupulous individuals become highly connected, fraudulently purchase arms, cars and drove authoritatively unchallenged, kill and go away with.

1.2          STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM    

To be kindly finance is so important, if not the most important in all aspect of any economy. On the other hand, crime is an unwanted aspect of our societies to growth. Financial crimes could therefore be likened to bringing together the tow extremes of our economy. The degree to which financial crimes occur in any society would affect the level of economic activities, which are carried out. The statements of the problems therefore are:

1.     What is the rate of occurance of financial crimes in Nigeria?

2.     Does the existence of financial crimes actually affect our Economy Development?

1.3          OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY  

The sole aims of this research work is to Examine the effects of the financial crimes on the growth of small/medium scale business. A study of selected transport companies in Edo State.

(i)            To identify the rate of occurance of financial crimes on transport companies in Edo State and its effect on the Economy growth of the state.

(ii)           To determine the government responsibilities, involvement to enhance development structure in that sector.

1.4          HYPOTHESIS

Hypothesis is a tentative answer to a research question. It is often stated in the form of a relationship between a dependent variable and an independent variable (Yomere 1999) Topics of this nature are continuous, stating our hypothesis would give us an ending point.

The following hypotheses are formulated and are to be tested.

(i)            Null Hypothesis: There is a low rate of occurance of financial crimes in Nigeria.

Alternative Hypothesis: Financial crimes have affected our economic development.

(ii)           Null Hypothesis: There is a high rate of occurance of financial crimes in Nigeria.

Alternative Hypothesis: Financial crimes have affected our Economic development.

1.5          BASIS FOR THE STUDY    

The basis for this study of the effect of financial crimes on the growth of small/medium scale businesses. A study of selected transport companies in Edo state cannot be over emphasized. The study will deal with a problem which much study has not been given too much attention. Otherwise making it new in nature. This research arms to serve as a spring board for others, who chose to dig further into the areas of financial crimes affecting growth of small/medium scale businesses in transport sector in Edo State.

The study will as well serve as a base for putting into place various procedures and policies which will assist tame financial crimes and bring it to its conclusion end.

These new orientation in nature would help to jump start our economy on this sector, re-introduce confidence and bring investors both local and international out of their hiding point.

1.6          METHODOLOGY

Data collected for the purpose of this study shall be analyzed and used appropriately where necessary in other to bring out the intrinsic value of data which is the basis of this study and conclusion drawn as information will be elicited from motor transport companies publications dissertation and thesis relevant to the study.

1.7          SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This research work will concentrate on the effect of financial crime on the growth of small/medium scale businesses. A study of selected transport companies in Edo State.

1.8          LIMITATIONS

Being a relatively new area in nature where not much research has been done on the topic. I envisage this will place constraint as non-availability of important literature works and text. Due to the sensitive nature of the study of Economic development this would place a constraint to the method of analysis available for this study. High cost of sourcing for materials and time in which this study most be completed, as I am a student that is supposing oneself with little income. Despite these shortcomings, this research will aim to vigorously carry out a comprehensive analysis and empirical job on this study.

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